By Andrew Walsh
awalsh@wbcowqel.com
It may have seemed like a straightforward proposal Don Faulds made Tuesday night, but Resolution 2013-19 raised eyebrows and questions at the Galion City Council meeting.
Faulds, as council president, had placed on the council agenda the resolution in question that would establish the policy that the chief of police or his designee attend all city council meetings.
The resolution quickly met with some questions as Police, Fire, and Health Committee chairman Jon Kleinknecht enquired who proposed this and why it had not gone through committee.
“It looks like an end run was done around the committee,” Kleinknecht said, as Faulds confirmed that he was the one who had proposed it.
Faulds apologized for not going through the committee and stated his feeling that it has historically been the precedent for the chief of police (or a designee) to be in attendance at council meetings. Faulds had spoken to (Police Chief) Brian Saterfield, before posing this resolution, about the matter, and the chief said they would do everything they could to accommodate. There have been some difficulties lately, as Saterfield is teaching at the academy in Mansfield and is not always personally able to attend, and the second shift police force has been a little thin.
Along with the questions raised about the procedure of this resolution, questions were raised about whether it was even necessary.
Councilman Matt Strickler added, “I don’t think this should have ever been brought to the table,” as well as, “You don’t need to make it a resolution, just ask the man.”
The resolution was ultimately tabled, after which it will be funneled to committee so they can install the correct wording and tone. Mayor Tom O’Leary assured everyone that regardless of whether any such formal resolution is passed that all possible efforts will be made to ensure that a police presence is maintained at Council meetings.
There will be a meeting at the Galion Depot at 5 p.m. on Dec. 18. O’Leary described this as an open meeting with the intention of generating ideas and proposals for any possible usage of the structure. It will involve a tour for people to gain an idea of the state of the building, followed by an open discussion to discuss a, “realistic idea of scope, schedule, and cost,” according to O’Leary.
The swearing in ceremony will be performed by Judge Sean Leuthold at 3 p.m. on Dec. 30, and the first council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Jan. 6. This will be a special meeting with a limited agenda. The primary focus will be on assigning committees.
The final meeting for 2013 will be held at 7 p.m. on Dec. 17, not Dec. 24. This meeting was moved up so as not to conflict with Christmas Eve.